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August 3, 2011

G109: Red Sox 4, Spiders 3

Jacoby Ellsbury smacked his second game-winning hit in roughly 22.5 hours, crushing a home run to dead center with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Red Sox another electrifying win. After zero game-winning hits in his first 455 games at Fenway Park, Ellsbury now has two in two nights. (video)

Ellsbury, who was 0-for-4 against starter Carlos Carrasco (7-9-3-2-5, 112), drilled Joe Smith's 0-1 pitch into the center field bleachers for his 18th home run of the season. He is now tied with Adrian Gonzalez for the second-most home runs on the team; David Ortiz has 20. ... Ellsbury hit 17 home runs in 2008-10 combined.

It felt great, I wasn't sure, I know the wind had been blowing in, I hit a ball pretty good earlier in the game to right that didn't get out, and when I hit it I knew I hit it well, I was just hoping it had enough. I didn't know what to do once it went over and I was running around the bases. That was exciting, obviously I've never experienced that in the big leagues. It was fun.

... but he gets the pre-celebration stop sign from Pedroia at the plate!

Tim Wakefield (6.2-5-3-2-6, 99) was pulled after giving up the game-tying hit in the seventh. So Win #200/#186 will have to wait another five days.

Boston scored twice in the first after two were out. Gonzalez singled and Kevin Youkilis doubled. Ortiz's single to left scored them both, though an error was charged on the play, giving Flo only one RBI.

After Cleveland tied the game in the fourth, the Red Sox retook the lead as Ortiz walked and went to third on Carl Crawford's double. After an out and an intentional walk to Josh Reddick, Marco Scutaro hit into a fielder's choice, and Ortiz scored.

Reddick, Gonzalez, and Dustin Pedroia each had two hits. Scutaro and Mike Aviles each stole a base.

After Randy Williams relieved Wakefield in the seventh (stranding the go-ahead run at third) and pitched a perfect eighth, Jonathan Papelbon pitched another no-nonsense ninth inning.

PeteAbe:"Saltalamacchia and Varitek have a .460 slugging percentage, tops for AL catchers in the American League and are tied for first in that group with 58 RBIs. The Red Sox have the most runs by a catcher with 58 and are tied for first with 43 extra-base hits."

I scored this game, not pitches though, and was also multitasking other stuff at the same time, so no thread for me. Also just watched the 9th of last night's game (taped) creating the ultimate dirty water cocktail tonight!